This interactive map collects the mythical songs of Madrid
“Look at her, look at her, look at her, look at her….”
Yes, of course you know how it goes. Many are those who have surrendered at the feet of Madrid, have fallen madly in love to the point of making her her muse and composing songs for her, recreating themselves in each of its corners.
Daniel Castro left his job as a physical therapist to become Daniel Keral, the author of the blog A Creative Journey. There he captures his traveling adventures, tells stories and creates things as original as this interactive map of the songs of the places in Madrid.
“This idea arose from a love/freak for maps, music and Madrid. Regardless of how much I travel, weeks or months, I always come back to Madrid, I really like my city (and I try to show it to the rest)”, says Dani.
Sabina is possibly the artist who has sung in the ear of Madrid the most times
To compose the map, Dani Keral has followed several criteria: "First of all, select songs that speak of different places in Madrid and they covered a good part of the city map”, he explains.
"Also, I wanted the route to have coherence as well," he continues. The tour begins with the mythical I get off at Atocha by Joaquín Sabina.
"He is possibly the artist who has sung in the ear of Madrid the most times, and for me this song is the most representative of the character of the city because of how he portrays it and the songs he gives to get off at this station," he says.
We continue along the path that Keral himself takes when he wanders around the city and shows it to a visitor: Lavapiés, Antón Martín, La Latina, Gran Vía… “until we reached Malasaña, we went up to Castallena and started to make bigger jumps”, Dani comments.
"Nights in Siroco, Antón Martín terrace..." sang Pereza in one of his best-known songs
“I also wanted to include authors who are among my favorites, such as Quique González, Ismael Serrano or Miguel Ríos (which repeats). Many will notice that quite a few songs are missing, but I couldn't put all of them, it would have been too long”, says Keral.
As for the song that all tourists who visit the city should know, "because of its nature as an anthem, The Puerta de Alcalá, followed closely by One more year for those who decide to come at the end of the year”, he replies.
For a sunset tinted red, orange and violet, Streets of Madrid by Quique González, definitely. I always imagine him as a nocturnal being who composes and lives from sunset”, says Dani.
There are also songs that pay homage to neighborhoods such as Vallecas, Carabanchel or Aluche
On the map we also find neighborhoods like Carabanchel, Vallecas and Aluche (where is Dani Keral from) . “I am from Aluche and my favorite song is that of Marwan, The neighborhood where I live. What to visit there? Known as the "Aluche seafront promenade, an area attached to the park full of terraces reminiscent of a seaside promenade in a city," says Dani.
As for new challenges, Keral has several draft projects on musical maps of other cities like New York and Paris.
“I also have a pretty crazy article in mind that follows the line of another one I did, Map of places outside the map. I would center it on imaginary or nonexistent places in Madrid. I have yet to decide because I want it to be quite playful.”
We'll be alert!
Dani Keral is from Aluche and his favorite song is precisely that of Marwan